Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Haverhill, New Hampshire

Town of Haverhill’s own rules

• Building code adoptedPartial

  Applicants and contractors using Haverhill's building-permit application.

  • The form requires compliance with State Building Codes under RSA 155-A:2; this source does not establish a separate town code edition or complete local adoption ordinance.

  “The Contractor/Builder certifies that he/she is aware of and will comply with the State Building Codes (RSA 155-A:2) as related to the property and proposed use.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Buildings covered by Life Safety and Fire Codes inside Haverhill town limits.

  • The contractor or builder must contact the Town Office to schedule necessary inspections.
  • The stated limitation is buildings covered by Life Safety and Fire Codes.

  “The contractor/builder must contact the Town Office at 787-6800 to schedule the necessary inspections. (Applies to buildings covered by Life Safety and Fire Codes)”

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  New construction, additions, repair or replacement, alteration, demolition, or relocation covered by Life Safety and Fire Codes inside Haverhill town limits.

  • Town Inspector inspections must be requested at least two weeks in advance.
  • The form states no COC fee, but noncompliance may result in additional fees.
  • The stated limitation is buildings covered by Life Safety and Fire Codes.

  inspection-request lead time: >= 2 weeks (Town Inspector inspections for certificate of compliance) · certificate fee: 0 USD (failure to comply may result in additional fees)

  “A Certificate of Compliance will be issued upon completion of new construction, addition, repair/replacement, alteration, demolition, or relocation.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Haverhill town limits subject to the town's existing zoning regulations.

  • The building-permit form identifies Wetland and Aquifer Protection, Flood Prone Area, Personal Wireless Service Facilities, and Airport Zoning regulations; particular regulations apply based on parcel location and use.

  “COMPLIANCE WITH EXISTING ZONING REGULATIONS”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  Town-recognized zoning areas identified in the building-permit application.

  • The form identifies Wetland and Aquifer Protection and Flood Prone Area districts, and asks whether Zoning Board approval is required.
  • The opened town materials did not provide a complete town-wide district schedule or map.

  “WETLAND AND AQUIFER PROTECTION ORDINANCE: Is property within the Aquifer or Wetland District?”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land and boundary-line changes inside Haverhill town limits.

  • Approval from the Planning Board is required before property transfer, road construction, building, or issuance of a structure permit in a proposed subdivision.
  • A subdivision application is submitted with required fees to the Town Administration Office.
  • The Planning Board must act to approve, approve with conditions, or disapprove a complete final application within 65 days, subject to stated extension procedures.

  complete application filing lead time: >= 21 days (before scheduled Planning Board public meeting) · Planning Board action period: <= 65 days (after acceptance of complete final application)

  “before any permit for the erection of a structure within such proposed subdivision shall be granted, all property transference or construction is prohibited until approval of the proposed subdivision by the planning board.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Woodsville Fire District applicants inside Haverhill town limits.

  • This requirement is limited to applicants in the Woodsville Fire District.
  • The Woodsville Fire District Commissioners issue the required driveway approval.

  “Woodsville Fire District applicants MUST receive driveway approval from the Woodsville Fire District Commissioners.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  A building-permit project located in a Haverhill flood-prone area.

  • The applicant must provide a flood-zone determination, building elevation, and certification that construction conforms to the ordinance.
  • This applies only if the property is in a flood-prone area.

  “If yes, applicant will be required to provide flood zone determination, building elevation and certification that construction will conform to the Ordinance.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Town building-permit applications inside Haverhill town limits.

  • The Selectboard reserves the right to modify the fee schedule.
  • The schedule states it was adopted December 2013.
  • A single- or two-family residence application is $25.
  • Life Safety Code fees vary by use, area, dwelling units, and estimated inspection hours.

  single- or two-family residence building permit application fee: 25 USD · multi-unit dwelling new-construction base fee: 150 USD (more than two units, plus $75 per dwelling unit)

  “The building permit application fee for single- or two-family residences is $25.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Haverhill or Grafton County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work inside Haverhill town limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Haverhill town limits.
• Setbacks — Structures inside Haverhill town limits.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Haverhill town limits.
• Building height — Buildings inside Haverhill town limits.

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Town of Haverhill means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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